I need to add a line for tourist tax/charge the guest.

[Katy578]

I need to add a line to my charges to cover tourist tax. It is 12% in Manatee county. Who can help me do this step by step? 

[Shelley159]

Hi @Katy578 

I assume Airbnb is not collecting this specific tax on your behalf? One solution is to go to Calendar, Pricing, and scroll down to Additional Charges. Perhaps enter it as the "Community Fee"? You can set it to "percentage of stay" and enter 12%. The explanation says "this is added to your nightly price, but it will be a separate item in your payout report". To me it sounds like it may not show up as a separate line item for the guest in the guest's payment breakdown (some charges don't necessarily show as separate line items on the guest's booking, and from time to time Airbnb changes how line items are displayed).

I think this method will help you add the 12% on top of your existing prices and will allow you to see it separately in your host records, but I'm not sure whether your main objective was to show it as a separate line item to the guest.

[Joan2709 · Accepted solution]

@Katy578 

As @Shelley159 mentions, there are several different scenarios when it comes to taxes:

1. Sometimes Airbnb collects and pays local/state taxes for you and pays the taxing authority on your behalf

2. Sometimes Airbnb only collects and pays state taxes, but allow you to add a custom tax that is collected and paid to you as Host (Custom Tax). You are then responsible for paying the local taxing authority.

3. Some situations, Airbnb does NOT allow you to add a custom tax at all. This is a pain, as the only way to collect and pay the tax is to disclose this on the listing and request it via the resolution center from every guest. The other option is to add it as a separate fee (Community Fee) as @Shelley159 mentions and it will be added to the price per night. You then must pay the local taxing authority. The problem is, some Hosts don't add the tax in this manner (opting to collect it via the resolution center) and therefore your price per night is higher than these Hosts. 

I am not familiar with Manatee County, FL and if you are allowed to add a Custom Tax. Maybe another Host in your county can advise if you can add a custom Tax.  If you can add a custom tax:

First, turn on Pro Tools in your account:

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/2499

Profile photo

Account

Professional Tools

Manage

Second, go to the preferences icon on the Listing Editor:

Chooses Taxes

Add a Custom Tax 

How to Add a CustomTax

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/2523

If you don't see the Custom Tax Collection/Add a Tax, then Airbnb does not allow adding a Custom Tax for your jurisdiction and you'll have to collect it from every guest via the resolution center or add it as an addl fee (Community Fee) and it will be added to your price per night, but will not be shown to the guest as a separate line item. This will increase your nightly rate by 12% and as I mentioned, if other Hosts in your area are not doing that, you will have a higher nightly rate than them.

To Add a Custom Fee

(You must have Pro Tools turned on to see Custom fees)

Go to your Calendar

Pricing (right side)

Scroll down to Addl Charges/Fees

Choose Community Fee

[Bhumika]

Wow @Joan2709 , thanks so much for sharing these elaborate steps with @Katy578.

Hi @Katy578 , do you see the options that @Joan2709 has shared step by step in the image? Is the custom tax collection option available to you? 

@Shelley159 has also added how you can check community fee option. 

In either case if you're not able to find the custom tax option, it might be a good idea to reach out to customer support team as well!

In the meantime I am also reaching out to hosts from the region if they have any ideas for us in this regards : @Belkis38 @Mike3192 @Victoria690 @Gina414 . Thank you in advance everyone!

@Katy578 Please keep us posted of your progress with these settings!